The fine art of squash

AUCKLAND PARK – "You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them." – Michael Jordan

November 3, 2017

Andile Dlodlo 1 minute read

23-year-old Alexa Pienaar has played squash since the age of nine and has played the game all over the world representing the University of Johannesburg and South Africa.

Hard work, on and off the court, has paid off for University of Johannesburg (UJ) student Alexa Pienaar.

She was recently named Sportswoman of the year and student-athlete of the year at the University of Johannesburg’s 2017 Sports Gala Awards.

She said, “It is a truly amazing feeling getting those awards as we do not always realise that UJ authorities do recognise the efforts put in by the athletes and it really is amazing getting that kind of recognition.”

Alexa Pienaar puts in the maximum amount of hard work and discipline when it comes to the things that matter to her, squash and fine art.

Pienaar is currently completing her national diploma in fine art and has attained an average of 74 per cent in the past two academic years.

Before taking part in the All Africa Squash Championships in Namibia last year, Pienaar represented the country at junior level in the U14, U16 and U19 squash teams.

In the same year, she played for the South African student’s team that participated in the World Student Squash Championships in Malaysia.

This year she was awarded the Hyundai award which is given to a squash player that portrays the face of the future of SA squash. Pienaar’s list of accolades is endless but she said her most significant achievement was her latest awards.

Alexa Pienaar is named the University of Johannesburg’s Sportswoman of the year. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Pienaar offered advice to young squash players that hope to be successful.

“Just hard work and have that commitment,” she said. “I do what I love so I cannot help but be passionate about it and give it my all.”

She reiterated that her success was not instant and it took countless hours on and off the court to get to where she was today. She also reminded young squash enthusiasts that ‘you will win some and you will lose some but the one who persists is the one who makes it to the top’.

Pienaar is hoping to be selected for the South African senior squash team to compete in the World Squash Championships 2018 in Charlottesville, USA.